License plates (also known as vehicle registration plates or license tags) are generally rectangular metal plates issued by your state’s department of motor vehicles for the purpose of identifying your car. A license plate must be attached to the rear of your car, and in 31 states and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.), you must also have a license plate on the front of your car. In a state or district that also requires you to display a license plate on the front of your car, your failure to do so will provide the police with probable cause to stop you and issue a citation at any time. State laws (statutes) generally provide for the specific placement of license plates, stated in minimum and maximum inches from the ground.

In Wyoming, vehicles are required to display license plates issued by the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT). The state mandates that a license plate be attached to the rear of the vehicle. Wyoming does not require a front license plate, so vehicles registered in Wyoming are only issued a single plate. The specific placement of the rear license plate is regulated by state law, which includes requirements for the plate to be clearly visible and legibly displayed at all times. It must be mounted in a horizontal position at a height not less than 12 inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of the plate. Failure to properly display a rear license plate can result in a traffic stop and citation by law enforcement officers.